Rag Report: Brocade, Embroidery, and Chiffon: Oh my!

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

Turkey is the perfect background for Marie Claire’s October issue spread “Turkish Delight.” Model Barbara di Creddo shows off rich brocade jackets, flowing chiffon dresses, embroidery and sequins in front of an opulent Turkish palace.

Photographer Koray Birand captures this brocade Balmain blazer against a beautiful blue Turkish sky at the Çiragan Kempinski Palace. Di Creddo’s pose fits; she seems regal, like a noble woman outside of her palace.

The decorative wrought iron in the background of this photo adds to the grandiose, over the top feel of this spread. The column behind di Creddo elongates her body and its light color makes the black embroidered Dries Van Noten pants stand out.

While a moss-green dress might otherwise blend in, on the steps of the Turkish palace this Dior chiffon dress is luxurious. The architecture and the red flowers are powerful complements.

The images combine luxury and extravagance with its clothing and scenery. Instead of being gaudy, this juxtaposition works. The model looks more like royalty; the clothing looks more detailed. It also makes Turkey look like a wonderful place to travel to!

-Jessica Dysart

Rag Report: Women of Power

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

With elections just passing, the idea of the liberated woman comes to mind. Whether it’s saving the world or doing community service, women know how to dress well while in a powerful position. In this month’s Marie Claire, 18 influential women were chosen to model in their best work oriented outfits. Photographer Lucy Fox captured these women on the roof of a building on the lower east side of Manhattan as well as in central park and the Modern Museum of Art. Her ideal goal for the photo shoot was to bring out the prevailing worker inside these women.

Model Alexa von Tobel is doing a classic chic pose with her right hand on her hip. She is staring at the camera with a smile that brightens the image. She is placed in front of the central park scenery. Tobel wears a simple black dress with a cream stripe just above her waist. Her pearl earrings and necklace add a sophistication and glamour to this image. Overall, Tobel looks fashion forward in her chic office wear attire.

Photographer Fox, captures Michelle Christense with a shy smile as her hands are behind her back. The tilt of her head as Christense faces the camera makes her more genuine and friendly. She is placed to the left side of the photograph, in which she seems she is not the focus of the photo, but her outfit draws attention away from the dull gray background.

Christense wears a simple pair of dark wash jeans and a dark black top. What makes her outfit interesting is the fact that her top has an eye lit hole right in the center drawing attention to her neck. Casual but classy, Christense effortlessly pulls off the casual but classy look while still holding her powerful reins.

Fox captures Naomi Pomery in this stunning photo. Posed in a small garden in Central Park, the bright green background really makes the photo pop. Pomery is posed with her hand on her left hip as she stares off the distance. Her hair is pulled back in a tight bun allowing the readers to focus on her plunging neckline. A simple crew neck black shirt is paired with a long pin striped black and white skirt. Her outfit allows her to create a focal point within the garden of green that she is placed in. Pomery is poised and keeps a firm standing in this photo.

-Stephanie Smith

Rag Report: The brighter, the better

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

This month's Marie Claire highlights a fashion trend for winter: bright bags.

With colors ranging from bright teal to hot pink, the photography features blindingly bright colors to reverse any sort of seasonal depression you may get from the drab winter scenery.

Marie Claire Nov. 2009

Although the trend is for the coming winter, the pictures are taken in front of blue seas and skies, and the models are wearing dresses, skirts and shorts. We like how the magazine used the contrast to highlight the trend.

We normally expect that winter fashion spreads will feature girls in sweaters, cardigans, jackets and boots, but Marie Claire chose to shoot the opposite.

The photos show the fantasy that the colorful bags are supposed to invoke. Just because there’s snow on the ground doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to feel bright and cheery.  Just because it’s dark and dreary doesn’t mean we shouldn’t add our own brightness and sunshine to our outfits.

The season's brightest trend: big, boldly colored bags.  

We love bright colors, all year long, with everything.  It keeps the mood light and happy. The trend of carrying big, bright bags not only has come in time to fight the darkness of winter, but also to lift us up in the not-so-ideal economy.

So, when the only colors around you are white and gray, add a burst of color with a hot magenta bag. We certainly don’t live in the tropics, so we might as well enjoying pretending that we do.

- by Amy Marturana